Mini Book Reviews: March 2026

Disclaimer: I received copies of 200 Monas, Once and Again, Whidbey, All the World Can Hold, and North of Ordinary from NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for my honest review. This post contains affiliate links.

I did my best, but was unable to make my way through all 9 NetGalley prereleases this month. Lake Effect and Theo of Golden were library holds, and I didn't want to let them go, only to get back in the queue. I'll continue to work through the remaining 4 NetGalley books as time allows. April looks to be a busy month of reading as well, with 8 NetGalley prereleases. Sigh. An embarrassment of riches.

My favorite book of the month, hands down, was Lake Effect. Perfectly executed, this will be one of my favorite books of the year. My other favorite, a non-fiction banger, was North of Ordinary. I do love a good adventure memoir, and this one checks all the boxes.

Brace yourselves, readers, because 200 Monas is a really wild ride of a book. I'm certain that I'm not the intended audience. Arvy, a college student, is grieving the loss of her mother. Going through her things, she finds a box of pills, 200 monas, guaranteed to give you the most mind-blowing orgasm of your life. She needs money to settle a debt, and tries to unload the pills with the help of the hot local drug dealer. What ensues is completely bonkers and, I have to admit, while entertaining, also very cringey. The writing is engaging, pulling the reader right into the story. I kept asking myself why I continued to read it, but I had to see it to the end, which was surprisingly rewarding.

This is the story of three generations of women, who, upon birth, received a silver ticket that allows each woman one opportunity to reverse course and return to the past — kind of like a do-over. Having read the author's previous work, In Five Years, which I really enjoyed, I was excited to read this one. Unfortunately, Once and Again did not meet my expectations. While overall it was a light, easy read, I wasn't invested in any of the characters or the storylines, except maybe the main character's father. I also found the book's structure somewhat confusing, as the POV shifts between the three women with no warning, as well as going from past to present. Still, it was a very readable book, just not one I'll probably remember. 

At its heart, Whidbey is the story of 3 young women processing their trauma of sexual abuse at the hands of the same man. When the young man is found dead of a hit and run, it reopens all the wounds of the past. But there's so much more to this book, which is told from multiple POVs. Dark and at times, darkly funny, I wasn't sure I wanted to finish it. But I'm glad I did because wow, that ending really tied it all up. There is just so much to process after reading it, and reflecting, I think the plot and the way the author rolled it out is just brilliant. Great character development made it shine. You might feel like giving up, but don't. It just may be the best book you read this year.

Lake Effect is probably one of the best family dramas I've ever read.  The story mostly involves 2 families, whose kids grow up together. When two of the parents have an affair, it changes the entire trajectory of the children's lives. Initially set in the small town 1970s (yay!), the author nailed this time period with amazing detail. Hostess snacks, anyone? IYKYK. In fact, she did this with the entire book as she navigated some complex family dynamics. This is not a breezy read, but it is immersive. The characters are well-developed, and the story is relatable and engaging. This is one of the best books I've read so far this year!

Set in the post-9/11 era, All the World Can Hold follows three diverse sets of passengers who proceed with their travel plans. While the focus of the book is not 9/11, there is some discussion of the appropriateness of travel during this time. Mostly, though, the author focuses on the characters as she shares their stories. Told in alternating narratives, it took some time for me to connect with the book. The characters never interact, and it felt as if I was reading three different character studies. I've never been on a cruise, but how the author laid out the story in this observational manner made me feel as if I was there, watching these people. Kind of an interesting perspective!

I picked Theo of Golden upon the recommendation of several friends, who raved about how good it was. Theo is a mysterious stranger who lands in Golden, a small town in the south. He touches everyone he meets with his ability to connect and converse, sharing nothing about himself but learning everything about the person he is talking to. He takes an interest in portraits drawn by a local artist and coffeehouse owner; buying them and distributing them individually to each subject. I loved the reminder of the importance of listening and of kindness. I never understood why Theo chose Golden until the very end. I did get a little bogged down in the stories about the townspeople. I agree with other reviewers that the narrative was bloated. But the writing was beautiful, and the message, important and needed.

I love reading memoirs from women adventurers, and North of Ordinary was excellent. Raised in Chicago in a volatile family situation, the author left home for the wilderness of Alaska. Her difficult upbringing prepared her for a life in the wild, and in this book, she shares stories of the challenges she faced. Her encounter with a grizzly bear nearly left her for dead. Her resilience and tenacity are remarkable — I can hardly imagine anyone surviving such a brutal attack. I've never heard of the author's TV show Life Below Zero, but I'm going to check it out. Sue is another inspiring woman hero to add to my list!

What did you read this month? Anything you want to recommend? Do you like nonfiction adventures? Next month I have 2 memoirs from Sara Hall and Mary Cain!!

I'm linking up with Jenn and Jenny for Tuesday Topics!  I'm also excited to join Farrah for My Month is Booked! Also with Share Your Shelf with Slices of Life and Not in Jersey.